Monitor for filamentary material



Oct. 30, 1951 R. M. BRINK 2,572,337

' MONITOR FOR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL Filed Nov. 13, 1947 INVENTOR ROBERT M. BRINK Bk M I ORNE Patented Oct. 30, 1951 MONITOR FOR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL Robert M. Brink, Pelham, N. Y., assignor to Deering Milliken Research Trust, New York, N. Y., a nonprofit trust-of New York Application November 13, 1947, Serial No. 785,661

8 Claims.

1 The present invention relates to the manufacture of yarn and more particularly to the inspection of yarn for detection of irregularities, hereinafter called slubs, therein and comprises a novel mechanical yarn monitoring device which is simple of construction, positive in action and operates, independently of the rate of travel of yarn therethrough, to break the yarn when the diameter thereof exceeds a predetermined value over a predetermined length.

There are various known mechanical devices, called slub catchers, now in use in the textile industry, each of which operates to cut or break yarn whenever the diameter thereof exceeds a value for which the device is set. These devices respond only to the diameter of the yarn and do not distinguish between slubs of difierent length. As very short slubs are ordinarily not objectionable, such known devices cut or break the yarn more often than is necessary. This results in an excess of knots in the yarn and in undue labor on the part of the operator who must remove the slub from one end of the yarn after severance by the device and tie the severed ends together.

There has thus been a decided need in the industry for a slub catcher that could distinguish between long and short slubs. As slub catchers are used at various stages of yarn manufacture,

a great number are required in any one mill.

Hence it is important that the device be of simple and economical construction, that it operate without failure and that it be simple of adjustment and of relatively long life.

The monitor device of the present invention meets these and other desiderata. It discriminates between short and long slubs, allowing the former to pass therethrough and breaking the yarn upon occurrence of the latter. It is of economical and durable construction, has only one moving part and may be readily adjusted for accommodation of yarns of different average diameter. Moreover the device of the invention operates to discriminate between slub lengths independently of the rate of yarn travel there-i through.

The new slub catcher comprises but two essential parts, a plate over which the yarn travels and a generally short legged U-shaped member pivotally mounted above the plate with its legs depending and positioned to be successively engaged by slubs in the yarn. This device permits passage therethrough of slubs of a length less than the spacing between the ends of the ber during passage through-the device. When slubs longer than the spacing between the legs enter the device, they are held therein with consequent breakage of the yarn.

For a better understanding of the inventio reference may be had to'the accompanying drawing of which:

Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive are diagrams explanatory of the principle of operation of the device of the invention and illustrating how the device discriminates between long and short slubs;

Figs. 7 and 8 are sectional and side views respectively of a monitor device embodying the invention, Fig. 7 being a section on the line 1-'I of Fig. 8;

Fig. 7a. is an enlarged sectional view of the pivoted member of the device of Figs. '7 and 8 and Fig. 9 is a sectional view showing an alternative construction of pivoted member.

In Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive the essential partsof the device of the invention are diagrammatically illustrated as comprising a fixed platform 2 and an inverted U-shaped member 4 pivotally supported above the platform 2, by a pin 6. The distance above the support 2 at which the member l is mounted depends upon the desired minimum diameter of slub to be detected, as will be apparent as the description proceeds. Yarn, indicated at 8, travelling in the direction of the arrow, moves over the platform 2 beneath the legs 4a and 4b of the member 4. It will be understood that the yarn is moved by any suitable means. The travel of the yarn may be assumed to be part of one of the normal operations in a mill. For example, the yarn may be in passage from a bobbin toa spooler or other winder and therefore travelling at a relatively high rate of speed. The two sections of the yarn 8 which are indicated at l0 and I2 represent slubs of the same diameter but of different length. It will be appreciated that the slubs have been purely diagrammatically illustrated as an aid in the understanding of the operation of the'new device and that no attempt has been made to illustrate in the drawings the actual appearance of a slub. Slub In is shorter than the distance between the lower ends of legs 4a and ib and will pass through the device, whereas slub I2 is longer than this distance and will be detected. As the short slub l0 proceeds through the monitor device, the advancing end of the slub engages leg 4a and rocks member 4 counterclockwise into the position shown in Fig. 2. The advancing end then engages leg lb and rocks the member 4 clocklegs as such slubs merely rock the pivoted 'mem- :wise into the position shown'in-Fig. 3. Due to the 3 short length of slub ill, the trailing end of the slub has cleared leg 4a by the time the advancing end engages leg 4?) and hence the clockwise movement, which permits egress of the slub from the device, is not limited by the slub. Fig. 4 shows slub l leaving the device, slub I2 approaching the device and member 4 returned to normal position. "When ltheiadvancingend'of the'; long slub |2 engages leg ia, as shown inFi'g. 5, it rocks the member in a counterclockwise direction in the same way as did the short slub I0. However, in the case of the long .slub w-hen the advancing end engages leg 41), member 4 cannot rock sufficiently clockwiseto"permittheslub to pass under leg 41) because the trailing endofthe slub has not cleared leg 4a as shown inFig. 6.

Thus the yarn is arrested atlegflb and the tension in the yarn causes breakage as indicated'at I6 in Fig. 6.

The essential elements of the new device and embodying'theinvention is illustrated, A'sshovvn, l

thebase plate of the device comprises a block of rectangular cross section having rounded edges 21) 'for travel :or yarn thereover Tiuring ingress t -and egress "from, the device. The

block 2-1) may be, for example, of cold trolled steel and the '-su1-face thereof lover which r the yarn "travels-is preferably wished. The pivotally :sup- "ported member of the device is indicated at 40 and depending-legs at i4llu-and 4l1b. 3A pin 60, the ends of which are rotatably mounted a bra'cket or frame 24, -supports' the :member 40 above the block 20 suitable spacing members 25 being provided between the endsof the member and the frame. Eramefil is-isecuredito the block 20 by machine Pscrews- 26 which pass 1..

fthrough an -Jelongated .slot"fZB in frame 24 and into threaded holes in the i'b'l'ockzlfl. arrangement therspacing between the member 40 and polished surface hf :block 20 L may :be adjusted in accordance with ithesaverage diameter of the-yarn andnninimum idiameter'pf slub to be caught.

*- 'I he-=operation of thecdevice of Figs. "'7 and :8 will ibe' clear from the description alreadyrgiven connection withFigs. l'ito '5. :If theirlirection of yarn travel is'from fright to lft.i('H:S":VlEWfid Fig. 7 then slubs in theyarn pfta diameter :greater thanzthe idistance :;-b;etween :the surface :015 !block' 20 "and the lower edgepf Z'l'eg 40a when mem'b'er 40 is 'in-zthe neutral position illustrated in the drawing, will rock "the .rm'em-ber :in a counterclockwise direction. :Slubs of a length Eless: than the spacingwbetween the legs 40a and 34111), indicated as-'d in Fig; 711, will rock the :zrneniber in "a clockwise direction mpon "engageinent with'leg 40b :andnpass on .throug-hwtheadevice --whi=le slubsilonger than 11mm T'bBYhlOCkfid by deg 401). With the particular "shape of :member 40 il'lustrated inthe drawings, slubs-pf arleng th :less than at will fbe passed and those 'of ;a :length egreater than .d "will "caught irrespective-of :lwhether the yarn'itravels' from light" to gleft, 'or :ifrom' left Tto11ight (as viewed" in :Eig. '7.) was the member-zifi .isrsymmetrical :about the vertical plane fintermediazlterthe :legs Midgahddflb.

rI=n order that .rthe initial, direction {of rotation et the; member @40 upon engagement of; a slub -w-ith :a leg begin :a .direction to permit entry -iof "the-slub 'irito".the:space hetween' the .legs the passing through the tips of the legs and the parallel plane through the axis of rotation of member 40 should be small, preferably less than (1/ 2 and the outer surfaces 4! of the legs should be inclined to the vertical through a substantial angle. The particular angle of inclination de pends upon the relative dimension of a and 'fd and :should'iloe such that when the surface *isengaged by a slub, the component of force normal to the surface will tend to rotate the member in the proper direction. If the device ;to;be used for-one direction only of yarn travel, the inclination of the surface 4| on the leg last to be encountered 'is immaterial.

"The pivoted member of the device should be pf'relatively hard material. The lower edges of the legs .need not becutting edges, as the operation of the device in eliminating slubs longer than-d does not require actual cutting of the yarn. If desired the inner face of one or both :IBESICOHld be shaped to increase .the jamming action whenxengaged byarlong slub. Such constructionzis illustrated in Fig. 9 wherein the ;.leg J4U'b'..-I0f :the .ipivoted member to has :an inner r'pla-rre :face -42 disposed atzrig'ht 'angles to the direction of'yarn travel. With yarn travel from :nightrto left :of the drawing, :such shape of leg @4112) provides -aifirm grip .on the forward endaof 'ailongzslub and enhances theojamming action --of the device. Leg 40a could :be'simi-larly shaped :ifnthe 'device .is to operate independently of the direction of yarn travel.

Although in the particular embodiment of the :invention illustrated in the drawings the lower aedge'of the legs are-equidistant from the ax-isof the pinand, when the member is in neutral position, he :in the same horizontal plane, this *construction of the pivoted member while in- ;creasing the range of short :slub diameter that "cant-pass through the device, .is' not essential, nor is .-it essential that the member be nicely -bal- :anced :so as to tend :to return ;to a 'position where ,rthextips-of the legs are equidistantfrom the sur- ;.face of .the :block. :Solongasthe pivoted member is relatively light and free to rock when :engaged bJ-ififiSlflb, the device will operate satisfactorily. Hencemogprecision. machinery is required in prozsduction nor fine adjustment in installation. the :pivotedmember engaged only when-a slub occurs :in the yarn, but little wear will be experienced-by theedges'of the .legs. 'Such little wear as might 'occurcan be readily reduced by causing .theyarn-to traverse in conventional manner back and forth along the legs if "desired but in view of the relative low cost of productionaof the pivoted member, it is'simpler to replace the member when worn to "too greatan extent. The pivoted member-can be readily removed for replacement abywithdrawalof' the pin '60 from the device-as will besapparent to those skilled :in the art. In .the same manner, if it is desired to change the .minimum alength of :long slub to :be caught, a piv- -oted :member having the desired .spacing of legs -can'be readily inserted in thedevice. I-f change in .the -m-inimum diameter .-.of long :slub to be caught is desired, the screws 26 may be loosened and :the frame .24 movedeup -.or down as desired to adjust .the spacing between the upper surface of the block-and the-legs of the pivoted member.

From the foregoing description of l the r-invention'iand of one specific embodiment thereof, it -Will :be apparent that the yarn monitor of the invention ,is :an efficientland-practical .device that scan be 'constructedeat :minimum cost and that d tam (s 7a) vihetweenthe rnlane -75, vrflli peratc, independent =oi -;the-.rate .of yarn travel therethrough, to discriminate between short unobjectionable slubs and longer slubs, eliminating the latter and passing the former. Obviously various changes, some of which have been indicated hereinbefore, could be made in the construction and operation of the device without departing from the spirit of the invention and various conventional yarn handling devices could be employed in conjunction therewith. For example yarn tensioning devices could be, and probably would be, inserted in the yarn path on one or both sides of the monitor device and conventional means responsive to yarn tension could be associated with the monitor for stopping the spooler or other winding device causing the travel of the yarn when the yarn breaks at egress from the monitor. Such conventional yarn handling devices have not been illustrated in the drawings as they are well known in the art and form no part of the present invention.

In the foregoing description and in the appended claims, the term slub is intended to mean a length of filamentary material that is oversize and the term yarn is intended to mean any textile filamentary material, whether nat-' ural or artificial, whether of continuous or of discontinuous fibers and whether of one or of a plurality of filaments.

The following is claimed:

1. A yarn monitor device for detection of slubs comprising in combination, a plate having a surface for travel of yarn thereover, an oscillatable member mounted adjacent said surface, said member having spaced portions positioned to be successively engaged by a slub during travel of yarn over said surface and between said surface and said portions, said portions being so located on said member with respect to its axis of oscillation that successive engagements with a slub tend to rock the member in opposite directions about its axis whereby slubs longer than the spacing between said portions are detected.

2. A yarn monitor device comprising in combination a fixed member having a substantially horizontal surface for travel of yarn thereover and a member having a cross section substantially of the shape of an inverted relatively short legged U pivotably supported above said surface with the depending legs thereof positioned to be successively engaged by a slub during travel of the yarn over said surface and between said surface and the ends of the legs whereby a slub shorter than the spacing between the legs of the U-shaped member successively rocks the member substantially parallel to said surface whereby each slub in the yarn of a diameter greater than the average distance between said surface and the base of said legs successively engages said legs, slubs shorter than the spacing between said legs successively rocking said supported member in opposite directions and slubs longer than such spacing rocking said supported member upon engagement with the leg first encountered and bein arrested by the other leg.

4. The deviceaccording to claim 3 wherein the leg to be first engaged by slubs during passage of yarn through the device has a surface inclined to the direction of yarn travel at an angle so related to the length of the le and the distance from the base of the leg to the axis of oscillation of the supported member that a force normal to said inclined surface of the leg produces a couple tending to rotate the supported member in a direction to move the base of the legs counter to the direction of travel of the yarn.

5. The device accordin to claim 3 wherein the leg last to be engaged by a slub has a substantially vertical slub engaging surface.

6. The device according to claim 3 wherein one half the spacing between the legs is greater than the distance between two parallel planes, one of which passes through the axis and the other of which is tangent to the base of the legs.

7. A yarn monitor device for discriminatin between long and short slubs in yarn comprising in combination a fixed support having an upper flat surface for passage of yarn thereover, a framework comprising an upright member secured to said support, a horizontal arm secured at one end to said upright member and extending over said surface, a depending section secured to the other end of said arm, a pin horizontally disposed with its ends supported in alined holes in said upright member and in said depending section, and a member carried by said pin and having depending spaced legs terminatin above said surface for passage of yarn thereunder, slubs on the yarn successively engaging said legs and rocking said pin carried member about the axis of the pin, whereby slubs of a diameter greater than the average distance between the surface and the extremities of said legs and longer than the spacing between the legs are stopped upon engagement with the second leg in their path.

8. The device according to claim 7 wherein said upright member is adjustably secured to said fixed support whereby the average distance between said surface and the extremities of said legs may be varied.

ROBERT M. BRINK.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this. patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,039,906 Culver Oct. 1, 1912 1,458,917 Bergren June 12, 1923 2,137,613 Hill et al Nov. 22, 1938 

